IF there’s something new in this year’s mid-term national and local elections, it is the widespread use of “fake news.”

Of course, this is in addition to the usual vote-buying activities during Philippine elections.

In the view of well-meaning voters, the dissemination of “fake news” is aimed at discrediting the government of President Marcos.

Probably, critics of the administration now find it hard to look for valid issues to be raised against the administration.

“Siguro, naubusan na sila ng bala kaya kung anu-ano na lang ang naiisip nilang gawin habang papalapit ang eleksyon,” a smiling new voter said.

But the bad news is that the revitalized Philippine Communication Office (PCO) is doing a great job countering the “fake news” being spread by destructive critics.

And law enforcement agencies, like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), are going after those behind the spread of fake news.

Without doubt, the use of “fake news” to frustrate the will of the sovereign Filipino people is something that should not be ignored by every Filipino.

“Ang pagpapakalat ng pekeng balita ay maliwanag na panlilinlang sa taumbayan, lalo na ‘yong mga botante,” a vacationing overseas Filipino worker from the United States said.

Ang maganda lang ngayon ay hindi basta naniniwala sa “fake news” ang mga Pinoy.

‘Yon lang ang masama sa mga nagpapakalat ng pekeng balita.

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